Baru nut and frozen fruits: Brazil opens new markets in Japan and the Eurasian Economic Union

Brazil just concluded phytosanitary negotiations with the Eurasian Economic Union, Japan, and Nicaragua, allowing it to export new agricultural products to those markets.

Japan confirmed authorization to import frozen and dehydrated fruits from the Latin American country.

Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) did not detail the foods that gained access to the Land of the Rising Sun, but emphasizes that it "expands opportunities for processed products with greater added value, in a market where demand for processed fruits, including frozen ones, has been growing."

In 2024, Japan imported more than $3 billion in agricultural products from the country.

Brazilian baru nuts are off to Eurasia

In the Eurasian Economic Union—a bloc comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia with a population of more than 183 million—authorities approved the export of baru nuts.

MAPA explained that this oilseed, native to the Cerrado region, is a source of income for locals and has broad potential for food use, as both its pulp and kernel are edible.

Also known as barukas, they are high in antioxidants, proteins, fiber, and healthy fats, surpassing other nuts like almonds. They are rich in iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins E.

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